samsmithsurfs

My husband and I are travelling to Vancouver from Australia in mid July and leave late August. We will have about 4 days in Vancouver with friends then have 30 days to ourselves. As some background: We are in our 50's and are quite fit. We like photography, scenery, walking and food & wine - and don't mind the road trips - but don't like to cram in hundreds of kilometres a day. When travelling we are happy to stop and take in the sights on the way to destinations and then stay in a town (on the way) for a night or two if that is a scenic place on the way to our desitnation (in this case I guess the destination I am thinking of is the Rockies)

I was hoping for some information on 2 main things.
(1) recommendations for Vancouver Island. I would love to see Orcas in the wild and scenery that you may not see in Australia (we live on a beach in NSW). Could you recommend places to visit on Vancouver Island (or the mainland on the other side where we may go back and forth with ferries?) I have heard that at Telegraph Cove you can go on trips to see Orcas and Grizzly Bears - are there other places that won't take such a chunk of travelling time? I believe that the Skookumchuck Rapids are worth a trip?

(2) regarding going to Jasper and Banff, I have read about some different routes to take, and would like suggestions on the most scenic loop to take with lovely towns to stay on the way to and from the Rockies. From looking at the map and things to do on the way, I can see these are many different possibilities! but the 3 main different routes I can see and was hoping for some feedback on scenery and things to do along the way and towns to stay in please:
(a) Vancouver, Whistler, Cache Creek and via Clinton to Clearwater (to see Wells Gray waterfalls? or will there be similar scenery once in the Rocky Mountains), then via Valemount and Mount Robson to Jasper.

(b) Vancouver, Hope, Princeton, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon (I put these 3 towns in as I understand this is a lovely wine growing area - but am not sure where the best places to see (do a wine tour) and stay a couple of days are out of these 3 towns?) - if going as far as Vernon - then Nakusp, Revelstoke, Golden, Banff, Jasper

(c) Vancouver, Whistler Lillooet then down through Lytton to Hope (as people say that the Fraser River on Highway 1 between Hope and Lytton is magnificent - is it worth doing such a loop?) then Osoyoos< Nelson, Creston, Cranbrook, Forth Steel then up through Radium Springs and Kootenay National Park to Banff then Jasper.

If you have a suggestion on the best loop, that would be fantastic.

I am thinking that we should spend about 4-5 nights each in Jasper and Banff to see the National Parks.

I would appreciate any advice on choice of route without having a fast pace or trying to fit in too much. I would probably prefer not to drive for more than 4 hours a day (in a single stretch).

I just realise I have another question- is it advisable to pre-book accommodation at that time of year?

many thanks for your help
regards Sam

wanderingcanadian

I spent a month in Alberta and BC in a tent a while ago, I will give your questions so more thought and get back to you.

LindainOhio

What a fabulous trip! I can only comment on #2 . You definitely want to take the Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper. We took it when we drove north to Jasper and then drove it back again when we headed back to Banff.

You could easily spend 4-5 days in Banff or Lake Louise(I would choose one location since they are only about 30-40 minutes apart) and then 4-5 days in Jasper.

That is a busy time in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. I would prebook your lodging here.

Have a wonderful visit. We love this area but have never had more than about a week. We would love to visit Australia and New Zealand. They are on our list.

samsmithsurfs

Thanks for the info LindainOhio - If I can help you with info on Australia, let me know.

busywithfour

As we have just moved to BC 4 weeks ago from Perth Western Australia, I am not able to answer most of your questions but will be following the thread to help us plan our trips..! However jsut to let you know that we have moved to Vernon (for one year on a teacher exchange.. with our 4 children) and we think Vernon and the Okanagan area is just beautiful and very different to Australia. We are also used to seeing beaches etc so to see huge snow covered mountains (these will be green when you are here) and the lakes here is just amazing. We are only just discovering things to do/see here but Vernon sits near 3 beautiful lakes and has a popular ski resort that is used all year round for hiking etc (Silver Star - many Aussies work here..)and there seems a lot to do outdoors. Not a lot of historical buildings, museums etc if that is what interests you but lots of scenery and wildlife. We live high on a mountain with an amazing view of a lake and can see deer on the mountain nearby and they also come on the roads sometimes also. We love it.! We are also goign to try and see Lake Louise as it is rated as the No 1 thing to see in Canada and its about 5 hours or so from here.All the best. Enjoy your trip.

samsmithsurfs

Thanks busywithfour - wow what an experience - I would love to hear updates from you. I am about to put up questions on places to see over on Vancouver Island too. Best wishes and thanks for the info on Vernon.

ShelliDawn

Just to confirm, you are flying out of Vancouver as well?

samsmithsurfs

Hi ShelliDawn, yep we are flying out of Vancouver. I am considering 4 days at Bella Coola to see fjords and hopefully wildlife, can anyone comment on that area? I might put up a separate question

Paragkash

Just check this fabulous trip report about Vancouver islands and Rockies, which may help you...

http://safaritalk.net/topic/7604-can...ind-of-safari/

6abc

SamSmithSurfs I am currently trying to plan a trip that we will be taking to BC this coming June for 2 weeks. I came across this website that I thought was pretty helpful with planning routes.

http://www.hellobc.com/british-colum...ng-routes.aspx

http://www.hellobc.com/ is the homepage

Hope this helps I can't give you any other info but looking forward to see what others suggest.

marg

We loved Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver. Don't miss Butchart Gardens.
Personally I'd chose option a - we followed this route last year and the scenery was really lovely. There is a nice motel at Clearwater just as you enter town from the south. If you are looking for accommodation in Jasper, we can recommend The GlassHouse B&B - great breakfast and lovely people.
Having said that both other routes are good but with types of scenery and things to do.